Give children a little self-destruction shock to their worldview.

However, because Mayumi Haga longs for contact with others, one of the rules of this game room is that the two players must cooperate.

In other words, if it were truly necessary for Mayumi Haga to bleed, it should have been Hitomi Tono who stabbed her.

"...No! I would never do such a thing!" After hearing Mayumi Haga explain the rules, the girl who had transformed into the magical girl Crimson widened her eyes, her expression a mixture of anger and fear. In any case, she immediately rejected Mayumi Haga's suggestion and pushed away the dagger that was offered to her.

She paused for a moment, then huffed again, "Why does Mayumi have to hurt herself when she has the option to be loved?"

Mayumi Haga's ears turned red, but she still didn't give in easily: "What happened last time was out of necessity, I can't ask you to do that kind of thing again..."

"What do you mean by 'that kind of thing'!" Tono Hitomi seemed to be one step closer to exploding. She glared at Haga Mayumi and took a step closer. "Is hugging me such a terrible thing?"

Mayumi Haga answered without hesitation, "It's my side that's worse off."

"..." Tono Hitomi was so angry that her teeth itched.

Although Mayumi Haga wavered, she still stubbornly remained unmoved, which was really infuriating.

Since it's already done, does that mean she forced me to put my finger in during the mental space? Even though I was the one who was more assertive, in the end, Mayumi still made herself so humble.

Mayumi is really too insecure.

Yes, low self-esteem.

It seems a bit strange to use this word to describe Mayumi Haga, who always stands ramrod straight, has a cold expression, and an independent personality.

But only someone like Hitomi Tono, who truly becomes friends with the other person and wants to take things further, knows that the other person is not only emotionally clueless, but also suffers from countless dark, ingrained feelings of inferiority and self-deprecation, and doesn't see themselves as someone who can receive love.

Even after the incident of being transformed into a dragon, Mayumi Haga only went from initially thinking "I am absolutely unworthy of other people's warmth" to now thinking "I probably am not worthy."

Take this room for example. Mayumi Haga clearly wants to hug someone and feel love, but she still sets herself the option of self-harm, using it as a form of punishment to escape Hitomi Tono's feelings for her.

Tono Hitomi would never agree to Haga Mayumi's request.

And she won't be like she was last time.

She shoved away the dagger that Haga Mayumi offered—a dagger sharp enough to easily pierce her heart—and instead grabbed her collar, pulling her down onto the other side of the large bed.

The soft, bouncy double bed offers excellent support, making you feel embraced even when just lying on it.

Mayumi Haga was quite taken aback, but Hitomi Tono simply leaned in and kissed her cheeks wetly, as if licking them, and then her neck.

Their intertwined breaths grew increasingly rapid. He wanted to push her away, but then he noticed that Hitomi Tono's eyes had also become moist.

Magical girl Crimson straddled the Guardian, tugging at her clothes, and said with reddened eyes, "It's your turn to hug me, Mayumi."

Main text: Chapter 166 The things I told you

Tono Hitomi originally thought that at this point, Haga Mayumi should at least give in.

However, even after the white-haired, golden-eyed guardian blushed from being teased, she still gently pressed her hand against Tono Hitomi, maintaining a certain distance.

"...If I remember correctly, Hitomi, you have five months until your eighteenth birthday," said the guardian, who appeared as an adult in this space.

The magical girl, Crimson (underage), and the guardian, Mayumi Haga (adult, whose age is unknown), looked at each other in bewilderment.

To be honest, Hitomi Tono really hadn't thought about the age thing. After all, when Mayumi Haga was with her, their physical ages were about the same. She always felt that she and Mayumi Haga were childhood friends, but when she thought about it carefully, she realized that Mayumi was indeed much older than her and could be considered a reliable adult.

Tono Hitomi herself has a baby face and a petite figure; although she is seventeen years old, she looks like a middle school student. When Haga Mayumi uses the appearance of a guardian in her twenties, the visual difference is even more obvious.

Once interrupted like that, Tono Hitomi's momentum crumbled and she could never recover: "Really... saying such things at a time like this."

“…Haha.” Mayumi Haga laughed somewhat awkwardly.

She was too embarrassed to say that Hitomi Tono's kissing technique was still too immature; he was kissing her face haphazardly, like an enthusiastic child expressing his love.

……child?

Realizing this, Mayumi Haga suddenly snapped back to reality, all her romantic thoughts vanished, and she quickly stopped Hitomi Tono.

Although Mayumi Haga can barely accept what happens in the mental space, ultimately, Hitomi Tono is still a minor. Even if she herself is a minor now, Mayumi Haga cannot possibly do anything to Hitomi Tono without any psychological burden.

After being interrupted by Mayumi Haga, Hitomi Tono, who knew her skills were poor, was a little frustrated: "How cunning, even though I'm of legal age... fine."

The magical girl Crimson, who had been straddling Mayumi Haga's waist, was quite dejected. She suddenly went limp and muttered as she covered Mayumi Haga with her whole body: "Why don't I have an adult form?"

"..." Mayumi Haga subconsciously hugged Hitomi Tono, who was lying on top of her and burying her chin in the crook of her neck. Hearing this, she was a little amused and exasperated. "Adult form?"

This was the first time the two of them had talked so affectionately. Tono Hitomi hugged Haga Mayumi and hummed, "Just like Mayumi, she suddenly grew taller and became very beautiful."

Compared to more intense physical contact, lying in bed like this, cuddling and talking, seemed like a good alternative. At least, Mayumi Haga had never felt this way before. She was a little stiff at first, but then gradually got used to Hitomi Tono resting her head on her.

"That's because that's how I've always looked," Mayumi Haga patiently explained to her.

This form is actually the original appearance of the Guardian. Her body shrank after she came to this world, but her heart did not shrink with her.

“I do know, Mayumi has actually experienced much more than I have,” Tono Hitomi said, her face pressed against Mayumi's, their hair intertwined, before she rolled off Mayumi, who instinctively wrapped her arms around her.

She lay on her side, her bright eyes resting on Mayumi Haga's arm, and asked, "Is that why Mayumi feels distant from me?"

Mayumi Haga turned her head to the side, her white hair slightly disheveled, giving her a more youthful appearance.

She blinked, thought for a moment, and then honestly answered, "Yes."

Although Tono Hitomi has reached the age of sexual consent, her impulsiveness and usual childishness still make it a little difficult for Mayumi Haga, who has always been used to treating Tono Hitomi as a younger sister, to handle.

So just embracing like this is enough, Mayumi Haga thought.

They weren't exactly lovers yet; distance always needs to be bridged little by little.

Tono Hitomi needs to understand Haga Mayumi better, and Haga Mayumi also needs to understand more clearly what Tono Hitomi is thinking... This is not something that can be solved simply by having sex.

Moreover, Mayumi Haga now seems to prefer a more gentle approach to relationships.

Hitomi Tono was a little frustrated, but then she thought that this was a rare opportunity for her to chat with Mayumi Haga without being interrupted.

"So," she recalled the memories she had seen in Mayumi Haga's mental space, and asked curiously, "Mayumi, did you really register 39 horses at the post station? What were the names of those horses?"

Hitomi Tono, who lives in the modern world, has never been exposed to the post station system in Mayumi Haga's world, and is very interested in the post stations where horses can be boarded and lodging is provided.

Furthermore, Mayumi Haga seems to really enjoy taming and registering the horses she captures in the wilderness; most of them are quite beautiful.

Mayumi Haga hadn't expected Hitomi Tono to ask her such a question, and she answered a beat late: "An inn is a place for travelers to rest and prepare, and as long as you pay enough, you can get very good service..."

As for the horses' names, although this part of the memory is quite distant, she actually remembers them all.

“There was a horse with completely white fur. Everyone was amazed, saying they’d never seen a horse with such pure white coats before. I named it ‘Shining.’” Mayumi Haga was happy to tell Hitomi Tono about this. “It ate a lot of hay every day, and it had the longest running speed of all my horses…”

"That was the horse I tamed when I was twenty years old. It was my first horse, and I loved it the most. But it didn't live as long as I did. In the end, I sent it to the grassland to find someone to take care of it until it died of old age."

Later, Mayumi Haga encountered other fine horses, but the one she remembered most vividly was undoubtedly Shining.

"On the night Shining passed away, I encountered a sandstorm in the desert. I thought I would be buried, but the ghost of a white horse suddenly appeared and led me to a place of refuge." In Mayumi Haga's world, there are also souls who do not want to enter the River of Life immediately and linger in the human world. However, she always believed that Shining just wanted to come and see her one last time.

And indeed, after showing her the way, the old horse closed its eyes, and its soul entered a special cycle of reincarnation.

Mayumi Haga and Hitomi Tono lay together on the comfortable bed, talking about their travel experiences.

She talked about the well by the post station, the stone statues she occasionally saw by the roadside, the mud and rainbows after the rain, and also about a special kind of poisonous mushroom that sprouted in the forest in the afternoon, which would make the skin on your fingers fall off completely if you ate it.

She said she actually knows quite a few musical instruments, but hasn't played them in a long time, and rarely sings in tune, so her voice is very soft, trying not to mislead others.

As she spoke, Mayumi Haga's voice grew softer and softer, becoming increasingly indistinct. Hitomi Tono saw her close her eyes and breathe evenly.

Mayumi Haga fell asleep.

Chapter 167? What did you all do in there?

I had a good night's sleep.

In this space, the flow of time doesn't seem to be completely linked to the outside world. At least when Mayumi Haga woke up, she felt refreshed and relaxed like never before, something that a short nap couldn't achieve.

I don't know how long I slept.

The magic that had been depleted for a long time, which could not be generated on its own, was replenished in the body.

When she realized this, Mayumi Haga was somewhat surprised.

Then she remembered that the rules for replenishing magic in this world were not the exchange of bodily fluids, but the transmission of that invisible and intangible "love"—such a spiritual power.

Holding hands, sleeping together in an embrace, or exchanging bodily fluids are all ways to replenish mana.

As long as Mayumi Haga is willing to accept Hitomi Tono's warmth, her magic will be replenished.

This is the most magical place in the world.

Under this standard of judgment, falling asleep in each other's arms is also a way to replenish mana.

So, by a twist of fate, Mayumi Haga replenished a large amount of magic power, and her body felt lighter than ever before.

This is even more efficient than actual sex, since Mayumi Haga would feel psychologically burdened in such situations and would subconsciously resist, but she would be more accepting if it were just lying in bed together.

When she woke up, Tono Hitomi was already awake, but she was pretending to be asleep with her eyes closed. She probably woke up first and stared at Mayumi Haga's sleeping face for a long time before hurriedly closing her eyes when Mayumi Haga's eyelashes fluttered.

However, such a small disguise could not escape the eyes of Mayumi Haga. She did not expose her directly, but sat up, somewhat stunned.

How did I fall asleep?

Mayumi Haga found it a bit unbelievable; she didn't feel particularly tired, but she just fell asleep while talking.

Perhaps it was the atmosphere that made her feel relaxed, or perhaps it was the long-lost memory that brought her comfort.

All in all, this was a rare experience for Mayumi Haga.

Because she seems to have found a way to truly relax.

Once the tension in your nerves has been building for so long is released, the feeling is completely different from before.

As Mayumi Haga felt a sense of satisfaction, the goal of the game space had been achieved. They noticed a small door that had appeared in the corner of the room where there had been no exit. If they pushed it open, they could leave.

After Mayumi Haga woke up, she originally wanted to leave immediately, but when she turned around and saw that Hitomi Tono was still pretending to be asleep, she decided not to leave so quickly.

Although I originally went out today to buy summer clothes with Hitomi Tono, we hadn't bought any before we got caught up in the prankster's attack. But I'm not in a hurry to buy clothes, since I still have plenty to wear.

Mayumi Haga originally intended to give Hitomi Tono, who was pretending to be asleep, a little time to wake up on her own, but unexpectedly, perhaps because the bed was indeed very comfortable, or perhaps because Hitomi Tono hadn't been sleeping well lately, Hitomi Tono actually fell asleep again after closing her eyes for a while.

Hearing the other person's steady, long breathing, Mayumi Haga helplessly tucked the blanket around Hitomi Tono, who had really fallen asleep again, hesitated for a moment, and then lay back down.

Let's rest a little longer.

.................................................. .................................................. .

On one side, magical girl Crimson and the Guardian were locked in the out-of-control prank room. On the other side, the prankster who was waiting outside for the two to come out on their own was bound to a chair by magical girl Iris, who rushed over after hearing the news, and was trembling.

With a serious expression, Takajo Yuri, who hadn't appeared for a long time, once again questioned the prankster who had cast this dangerous spell: "So why haven't they come out yet?"

Based on the time difference deduced by the prankster, one hour has passed outside, while at least twelve hours have passed inside.

Logically speaking, the space of the pranksters shouldn't be that difficult to break through. Even if they're not good at playing games to achieve their goals, as long as the outside world forcibly interrupts them and forces the pranksters to release them, the problem can be solved.

The problem is that the current prankster is not only unable to unlock this space, but also unable to peek inside, completely losing control.

Therefore, Yuri Takajo, who had initially been very confident in Magical Girl Crimson, suddenly became anxious.

What exactly happened here that prevented even the magical girl Crimson from breaking through?

Completely unaware that two people were sound asleep inside, Takajo Yuri was frantic, grabbing the prankster and demanding a solution, since he was the one who caused the mess.

The Prankster: "..."

What could she do? All control had been taken away!

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate in a corner of the mall, a blue light rapidly approached from afar, and a sky-blue magical girl appeared before them.

She tossed her hair, which was draped over her shoulder, and gave a brief report: "The crowd has been evacuated... Hmm? Iris, haven't you resolved things here yet?"

Magical Girl Sky Blue is puzzled by the efficiency of Magical Girl Iris.

Although she's a magical girl from the neighboring city, she's always making guest appearances here, and will most likely become a permanent resident here soon... Anyway, nowhere is as dangerous as Miracle City.

Magical Girl Sky Blue – A girl whose real name is Arisu Akari, actually harbors a subtle competitive spirit towards Magical Girl Crimson.

When Magical Girl Crimson couldn't transform, Arisu Akari was secretly pleased, feeling that she could outdo her and maybe even make Crimson a permanent resident of the neighboring Strange City.

However, during the major incident of the destruction of the spiritual veins in Miracle City some time ago, she and Yuri Takajo were excluded. For some reason, the magical girl Crimson, who was unable to transform, participated in the incident and even had a fortuitous encounter that allowed her to resolve her transformation problem ahead of schedule.

Akari Arisu had mixed feelings.

While it's certainly a good thing that the other person can transform, it's still a bit upsetting to be excluded.

However, it seems that the opponent's transformation problem has not been completely resolved, and even the prankster monster cannot be dealt with... Did they encounter some trouble inside?

Although she didn't want to admit it, she did have some concerns about her competitors.

Just as the two magical girls were about to begin a double interrogation of a weak, pitiful, and helpless prankster, space suddenly distorted, and the magical girls' crimson aura appeared.

The three looked over and saw Crimson, a magical girl who had fallen into a deep sleep with her eyes closed for some unknown reason.

She was carried in a princess carry by the guardian lady wearing a strange and dangerous mask. The white-haired guardian had cold eyes and was exchanging glances with several people guarding the place.